Cleaning Advice
Discussion
Hi,
I am looking for some advice, my 8 year old Speedmaster needs an clean, nothing internal , just the case and strap, my local watch repair shop are doing a cleaning service using ultrasound, but I seem to remember many years ago there being some bad press with the damage ultrasound could do to jewelry, does anyone know if it is safe to clean a good watch this way or can anyone suggest another way.
Cheers.
I am looking for some advice, my 8 year old Speedmaster needs an clean, nothing internal , just the case and strap, my local watch repair shop are doing a cleaning service using ultrasound, but I seem to remember many years ago there being some bad press with the damage ultrasound could do to jewelry, does anyone know if it is safe to clean a good watch this way or can anyone suggest another way.
Cheers.
An ultrasonic cleaner is commonly used to clean jewellery and watch parts.
Items to be cleaned are placed in a cleaning solution inside a machine which uses ultrasound waves to agitate the liquid, creating tiny bubbles, which then collapse - or cavitate - releasing energy which helps free dirt.
The process works so well on jewellery etc. because those tiny bubbles get where a brush cannot.
It’s perfectly safe.
Only an idiot would place the entire watch head or an unassembled movement in whole.
I imagine they’ll detach & clean the bracelet ultrasonically, and depending upon how thorough they are, either wipe the outside of the case or remove the movement, dial, hands etc. and put the case only in the machine.
You can buy machines cheaply online.
If it’s just the bracelet and case that’s a bit manky, then a water & washing-up liquid moistened soft-bristled toothbrush plus microfibre cloth afterwards should clean the case just fine (careful of using running water around a Speedmaster, they aren’t terribly waterproof, and I certainly would not be dunking or submerging an eight year old example with uncertain seals & non screw-down pushers under water or a running tap).
Detaching the bracelet from the case and letting the bracelet soak for a good while in very hot water with detergent in should loosen dirt by itself, such that you can remove surface dirt with a toothbrush under a tap.
If the crystal is hesalite (acrylic) and scratched-up, then check out YouTube as to how to easily tape off the case and polish out light crystal scratches to as good as new with a micro fibre cloth and a tube of Polywatch (or toothpaste, or brasso, or autosol - basically any abrasive paste).
Although, at eight years old - depending on many variables - you might think about servicing the movement in a few years, during which they can professionally clean & polish the case etc. as well. Obviously a lot more expensive, so I’d be cleaning surface crud off myself in the meantime until the watch mechanically needs servicing.
Items to be cleaned are placed in a cleaning solution inside a machine which uses ultrasound waves to agitate the liquid, creating tiny bubbles, which then collapse - or cavitate - releasing energy which helps free dirt.
The process works so well on jewellery etc. because those tiny bubbles get where a brush cannot.
It’s perfectly safe.
Only an idiot would place the entire watch head or an unassembled movement in whole.
I imagine they’ll detach & clean the bracelet ultrasonically, and depending upon how thorough they are, either wipe the outside of the case or remove the movement, dial, hands etc. and put the case only in the machine.
You can buy machines cheaply online.
If it’s just the bracelet and case that’s a bit manky, then a water & washing-up liquid moistened soft-bristled toothbrush plus microfibre cloth afterwards should clean the case just fine (careful of using running water around a Speedmaster, they aren’t terribly waterproof, and I certainly would not be dunking or submerging an eight year old example with uncertain seals & non screw-down pushers under water or a running tap).
Detaching the bracelet from the case and letting the bracelet soak for a good while in very hot water with detergent in should loosen dirt by itself, such that you can remove surface dirt with a toothbrush under a tap.
If the crystal is hesalite (acrylic) and scratched-up, then check out YouTube as to how to easily tape off the case and polish out light crystal scratches to as good as new with a micro fibre cloth and a tube of Polywatch (or toothpaste, or brasso, or autosol - basically any abrasive paste).
Although, at eight years old - depending on many variables - you might think about servicing the movement in a few years, during which they can professionally clean & polish the case etc. as well. Obviously a lot more expensive, so I’d be cleaning surface crud off myself in the meantime until the watch mechanically needs servicing.
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